Chapter Fifty-Three

The ritual was to be held at a set of ancient stones, the pillars arching inward to a circular platform with runes carved into their faces. It was deep into the swamp, north of the sleeping city and through the fog. Falion gestured to the center platform upon their arrival, the tension as thick in the air as the cold was. "That is where you will stand," he instructed Yosa'Min. She began towards, making him hold up a hand. "Not yet. You'll trigger the runes and I must get everything in place first."

"You're the one in charge," said Yosa'Min, standing besides a curving pillar. "Just tell me what to do so this goes the way it should."

Nodding, Falion turned to Siulon and her apprentice Brelyna. "Do you remember what we discussed?"

"I'm not senile yet," remarked Siulon, the younger dunmer snickering. "You did bring the potions didn't you?" The blind mer asked, Brelyna straightening up.

"Yes of course!" She began to rummage through the satchel she brought with them, pulling out a trio of marked bottles and approached Yosa'Min. "Drink the red one first, next the blue then the purple."

"What're these for?" Asked Yosa'Min as she obeyed, a bitter taste to the red one.

"They'll strengthen your body, and help guide your soul," explained Brelyna. "They'll also make your reactions slower… just in case."

"Taste terrible," complained the redguard as she drank the second. The purple one nearly made her vomit.

"Sorry." Brelyna then scampered off to where Falion was placing a black soul gem, the redguard muttering incantations under his breath.

"Tell me that soul gem isn't filled," uttered Yosa'Min.

"That one?" Inquired Siulon, "if it's the first one, then it isn't. The second will be."

"Someone died for this?"

"A lowlife thug not doing anything good for society."

Yosa'Min's gaze drifted to the tattered red sash she wore. "Doesn't make them less of a person."

"Perhaps, but now the roads are just a bit safer." Siulon stared above her head, unnerving the redguard. "So you are the one these women have been bothering me about."

"Sorry for all the trouble."

"Its heartwarming, if you forget about the death… the lengths they went to, the things they did. You are most lucky they care so greatly for you." The dunmer held out a hand. "Do you have any weapons?"

"My bow, and a knife."

"I must confiscate them for now, just in case."

Frowning but understanding, the redguard surrendered the weaponry to the mage. "You know about vampires? You're the expert my friends have mentioned?"

"I've written many books on the subject," confirmed the dunmer, "centuries have been dedicated to your kind."

"So you know what you're doing?"

"This is the first time I'll witness a successful curing… if it is successful."

Deflating some, Yosa'Min forced a smile to hide her nerves despite Siulon's blindness. "Great."

"You needn't worry, Falion will save you."

"So are you supposed to be prepping me or something?"

A half smile crept across Siulon's burned face. "Something like that. I am an expert on the mind of a vampire, each one unique yet similar. I need to gauge just how far along you are in the transformation."

"So you'll need to ask a bunch of questions?" The redguard was a bit tired of all the introspection.

The half smile turned into an amused one. "No." Siulon pinched her fingers together and pressed them to Yosa'Min's forehead. A flash of magic exploded between them, harmlessly fading out of existence yet jolting the vampire as if she'd been burned by the sun. "Divines…" uttered Siulon with an apprehensive note, stepping away. "One more day and this might not have had even a chance."

"That close?" Questioned Yosa'Min as she rubbed her brow.

"Aye…" Siulon shook her head. "But no matter, this can and will be done. Now Yosa'Min, you are aware this might not succeed correct? Your nature makes it all the harder as you're part of a very strong bloodline."

Yosa'Min glanced to where Serana watched with worry. "The Volkihar certainly are something else."

"Ancient and powerful," agreed Siulon, "as it is though, I'd advise you say… something to your friends. Treat it as if you may never speak to them again."

"But it will work, right?"

"Of course."

Disturbed, Yosa'Min moved away from the dunmer to where her friends awaited. It hurt to not see Lydia amongst them. "So this is it," said Yosa'Min, "it's about to happen."

"We'll see you on the other side," Mjoll said encouragingly.

"We will," agreed Vex.

"I love you," Yosa'Min proclaimed, "each of you, only one romantically but I do love you all. Though you may not feel the same about each other, you are family to me. I will forever be in your debt. Vex, thank you. I'd probably still be getting drunk and in fights in Whiterun if it wasn't for you." There was a passing thought that Lydia would still be alive also, but Yosa'Min refused to blame Vex. If it was anyone's fault it was her own.

"Yeah well thanks for all the help with Mercer, and the Guild," replied the imperial with a soft blush.

"Don't sell yourself short."

"Please," Vex scoffed playfully, rolling her eyes, "I would never." The lightness in her voice was like an eclipse, rare and beautiful as she added more sincerely, "Come back to us Yosa'Min, please."

"I will. Iona," Yosa'Min said with a softness that made the housecarl stiffen, "I am releasing you from your oath."

The redhead jerked forward. "What?"

"The woman you were sworn to is dead, no matter how you look at it she died. You deserve so much better than her, and you deserve to live your life."

"My Thane this is all I have," begged Iona, "without Lydia or you, what am I to do?"

"The College will always have its doors open to you," said Siulon from where she stood near the stones.

Iona took a step back. "I- I-"

"Do not rush Iona, I am simply giving you an option not demanding an answer."

"Iona you may stay with me if you wish, but it will be of your own accord and you are free to leave whenever you desire. I don't want you to feel trapped by duty or oath when you do not wish to be there. It's up to you." Softness graced her features, Iona's mouth agape. "Lydia lost her life for an oath, don't lose yours for one too."

The redhead stepped back, uncertainty consuming her. "Serana," Yosa'Min went on, "no matter what happens you will be my sire. You saved me, not just from death but myself. You are my friend, and if ever you need me I will be there swift as the shadows can carry me."

"Yosa'Min…" Serana whispered, and unable to stop herself she rushed forward in a cloud of bats, embracing the smaller woman as she rematerialized. "You want this?" She whispered one last time, an ache in her voice.

"I do," replied Yosa'Min in an equally quiet tone, holding Serana tight. Her mind rushed with fear and worry, the thought that it wouldn't work creeping back up within her, the possibility that she'll harm them all in the end. She opened her eyes, forcing the images from her mind as Mjoll and Vex watched. "I have to," she whispered, stepping back. Yosa'Min glanced down at her left hand, a faint circle just visible on both sides. She'd nearly forgotten about it. "Do you remember turning me?" It felt like ages ago that she'd awoken the vampire in the crypt.

"Of course I do."

"But do you remember nearly killing me?"

Serana winced softly. "Yes."

"So do I," she replied, eyes rising to meet Serana's. "Thank you."

The sire blinked, her face slowly drawing into a confused smile. "Thank you?"

"Yes. Thank you for turning me, for saving me, for giving me a chance to become someone so much better than I was. For being my friend and for letting me go."

Serana stared at her, the redguard such a mystery. "I- I don't understand you Yosa'Min."

Smiling, Yosa'Min shrugged softly. "I hardly do myself."

The tears Serana had held back before returned, this time she didn't bother stopping them. "I love you too," she whispered, kissing Yosa'Min's forehead. "If you ever need me, I'm only a letter away."

"I'll be sure to keep in touch," replied Yosa'Min, "I'm tired of losing friends." Serana gave a pained smile, wiping the moisture from her eyes and stepping away.

Mjoll stared at Yosa'Min, anxiety and hope swirling in her eyes. "To fresh beginnings," she uttered, the redguard nodding her head. "I love you."

Closing the distance between them, Yosa'Min pulled Mjoll into a tender kiss. "I love you too," she whispered into Mjoll's ear, having to stand on her tiptoes and the nord lean over some. "Thank you for not giving up on me, even after I had."

"I did it once… never again."

"Yosa'Min," called Siulon, "it is time."

Tearing herself away from the nord, Yosa'Min approached the runed platform between the curving pillars. The moment she stepped inside, a surge of magic rose up and shimmered around her, making her skin tingle uncomfortably as if under the light of day. She glanced to where Falion was reading some of her journal, frowning at the intrusion but deciding not to bother, it was probably to help him with bringing her back after all.

"I need one last thing from you," Falion said as he turned a page, "an anchor. Something definitive to you before you turned, something that perhaps even now means the world to you."

Yosa'Min frowned in thought, before simply saying, "Vastin."

"Your brother… I see. That will work."

"He's soul trapped, I have to save him."

"You will," Falion replied, "so long as we save you first."

The uncomfortable itch spread over her body until she was consumed, fire filling her lungs. Falion closed the journal and clutched the empty soul gem, muttering incantations. Brelyna raised her hands and joined in, green magic playing between her fingers before extending out to illuminate one of the pillars. Siulon did the same, only her magic was a soft blue hue. The redguard hissed lowly as she watched red magic stream from Falion and crawl up the third pillar.

Stretching out from the columns to where Yosa'Min stood, the tendrils of magic became one solid white beam. It trembled for a few moments, aching with stress, before jolting downwards and into the vampire. Yosa'Min's fangs were bared in a scream, her head tilting back as she let loose a feral cry. Her knees gave out beneath her, a pulsating headache soon making nothing but stars dance in her vision.

"Oblivion!" Shouted Falion, eyes nothing but white magic. "I call upon thee! This creature before you is wrought with darkness, but seeks to return to the light and life! Power you alone possess the ability to do, a gift you can give!" Magic reverberated in his voice, thundering around them. Yosa'Min writhed on the rune etched stone, trapped within the pillars of light. "Accept our sacrifice in place of this one's soul. As the sun ends the night, end the darkness of this soul!"

The soul gems began to glow, vibrating with power. Brelyna grimaced in pain, sweat upon her brow as the gems began to lift into the air. The one filled with a soul spun, tendrils of black ebbing out of it with iridescent flares. The empty one awaited what was to come, hovering ominously and silent. A crack of magic deafened those in attendance, the mortals and vampire silenced into awe and fright at the display. Yosa'Min cried and hissed, convulsing in agony before she rose her head, eyes glaring intently at the source of her pain.

"FUS!" She tried wildly, her thu'um bouncing off the magical barrier and slamming into her instead. She fell onto her back, chest heaving, before growling desperately. She screamed incomprehensible violence, scrambling against the barrier that burned her skin, trying to escape the agony of resurrection.

"Keep it up!" Siulon encouraged to Brelyna as she wavered, "we can't drop the barrier!"

The young dunmer gave a weak nod. "I'll try! She's so strong!"

"Her survival instinct has kicked in, she's going to give it all she's got!"

Falion seemed unaware of the happenings, blind as the burned mage was, hands raised into the air and mouth uttering one incantation after another. "Oblivion, I beseech thee!" He called again, "return this wretched soul to the land of the living!" Yosa'Min tried once more to blast her way out of the barrier, a visible waver in its surface. "Accept our offering in return for this one's soul!"

"Siulon I don't know if I can maintain the barrier much longer!" Cried Brelyna, legs quivering beneath her.

"You must! Dig deep Brelyna, I know you're stronger than you let yourself believe!" Encouraged Siulon, gritting her teeth with effort. The redguard was tremendously powerful. Blind eyes turned to where the four women watched, focusing on the redhead despite being unable to see her. "Iona, we need you!" Her voice brought the nord out of her trance, Iona hesitating as she glanced down to her hands. She could see her blood still, feel her cold body against her fingers. She couldn't save her. "Iona! Did you forget what I taught you?"

"No," whispered Iona.

"Then save your thane! Help us maintain the barrier, focus your energy on it! If she gets out we're all doomed! Do you want to fail her?"

"No," replied Iona with a growing conviction.

"Then get your ass over here and cast!"

"Okay!" Replied Iona, rushing over with hands rising as she began to utter the words for the spell. Yosa'Min was panicked, trying to climb out the ethereal prison, slashing at the magic and turning into shadows only to slam against the shimmering barrier. A crack appeared in its ghostly shell, Yosa'Min focusing her efforts upon it only for it to close up with Iona's added strength. The barrier healed itself before their eyes, closing tighter to restrain the redguard further.

"Oblivion!" Screamed Falion a third time, "bring life to this body before you! Pluck her from her prison and return her to life, we beg of you!"

Yosa'Min arched skyward, skin burning as the magic ripped through her. A light radiated from her, bleeding outwards like the soul gem, something pulling itself from her. "It can't be," uttered Serana, frozen in place. It burst into Nirn, wrenching itself from Yosa'Min and into the physical realm. Thrashing, violent movements tore it out as if something was pulling the being out. A rumble of magic accompanied her agonized cries. When it was finally freed she collapsed once again, bent forward and gasping.

The spectral was a faint purple hue, transparent and yet also solid, legs unseen but it's monstrous face was visible. Wings spread outwards, flapping experimentally before it turned to the weakened redguard. A thread of light connected the two, spiraling out from their hearts. "It's… it's her," whispered Serana, legs bringing her forward, Mjoll having to grab her arm to keep her from drawing any closer, but as transfixed with the sight as Serana. The spectral resembled Yosa'Min when transformed into a vampire lord, only small enough to fit inside the tight barrier. Its serpentine eyes streamed magic, coldly staring down at the shuddering redguard.

Mouth opening to reveal its many fangs, the spectral joined in Yosa'Min's cries. It turned around her, the magic connecting the two wrapping itself around Yosa'Min like a rope, tightening sharply. "What's happening?" Uttered Mjoll, Vex unable to find her voice while Serana snarled in agitation, tearing herself free from the nord's grip and rushing towards the barrier. "Serana, no!"

Slamming against the barrier, Serana clawed at it, trying desperately to protect her fledgling as the spectral began to choke her. "Let me help her!" She demanded of the mages, unable to break through. Yosa'Min gasped as the magic around her throat tightened, the spectral grasping it like a chain and kicking her down with an only slightly visible leg.

"You can't!" Snapped back Siulon, straining under the effort. "Now stop making our jobs harder!"

Serana hissed in frustration, clawing at the shimmering magic, only to be pulled back by Mjoll and Vex. She struggled against them, a pounding in her chest telling her to save Yosa'Min as the redguard choked and seized. "I have to!" She shouted, breaking free of the pair and surging forward into the barrier once more. "I have to protect her!"

Gripping the nord vampire by her shoulders, the pair of blondes pulled back with enough force to send her to the ground, Mjoll swiftly pinning her with her superior size. Vex held her dagger to Serana's throat, hoping that a threat to her own life would be enough to snap the sire out of her protective frenzy she'd entered. Siulon gritted her teeth in frustration, lowering one hand from the barrier spell and casting a separate one. It washed over the trio, calming them, Serana relaxing and ceasing her struggles. Huffing, the dunmer returned to keeping the barrier up.

"Oblivion!" Shouted Falion, eyes still nothing but white. "Return her soul, accept this one in her place!" The soul gem began to crack, its contents bleeding out to mix with the magic still surging through the redguard. The spectral turned a darker purple, slowly filling with the energy. It opened its maw, death upon its ghostly fangs as it leaned in closer to the redguard, pulling tighter on the stream that bound them together. "Return her soul, accept this one in her place!"

Cackling darkly, the spectral gave another tug on the binding, wings flaring to their max inside the barrier. Yosa'Min coughed and sputtered, eyes just as unseeing as Siulon's. "This soul is mine!" A voice declared, coming from the spectral but its lips did not move.

Falion grimaced as the magic fizzled, lightning jolting back into the casters. "Falion!" Shouted Siulon, "This doesn't seem to be going well!"

He did not answer, instead repeating his incantations once more. "Foolish mortal," sneered the voice, "you cannot rescue her. She is mine!" The spectral pulled on the magic, bringing Yosa'Min up into the air as it held her, the small woman flailing for a few terrible moments before growing still. "Now and forever!" It bit down into her neck, the screams that came were deafening,.

Oblivion.

It was dark and all-consuming, suffocating anything that resembled life. The mage found himself amidst a sea of nothingness, floating almost as he stood upon air, but not quite falling. He was not within Coldharbour, but instead some similar realm under the Prince of Domination's control. Like the sinister sister realm, it was equally cold, freezing the specter in place as he finished materializing. Falion blinked a few times, adjusting to the astral plane he was within now. Motes of light speckled the blackness, beacons that drew Falion's interest. It was a graveyard of no remark, nothing to identify who was trapped within. Souls eternally lost, marooned in darkness, bound forever.

He lifted his hands, an orb of white forming between his fingers and filling the empty soul gem that had traveled with him. "Volkihar," he whispered, "reveal yourselves to me." Oblivion shuddered around him, twisting and turning on itself as he was transported to his destination. The souls that shared the same bloodline appeared before him, some of them rainbow hued while others burned a particular color.

Falion looked around trying to find the soul he sought out. "Yosa'Min," he called, Oblivion shimmering for a moment before rejecting him. The redguard frowned, trying twice more to narrow his search but some force was preventing him. "Trying to stop me are you?" Falion asked to the dead air, knowing that somewhere in that realm was Molag Bal. "I will save this woman," vowed the redguard, stepping forward through the milling crowd of souls.

Some were weak, barely hanging on as ethereal chains tethered them to the darkness. Falion knew well that the colors they contained expressed the emotions in which they experienced upon death, his eyes keened for a rainbow to signify one still was living in a sense. Falion drifted through the crowd, passing a red soul that cried in agony about flames and betrayal while another pair uttered about a dragon again and again. The blazing light of a still living vampire drew him, the soul gem sensing Yosa'Min's presence and leading him.

She was in a trance, eyes hollowed with agony as the chains upon her body tightened the closer Falion drew near. "Hello?" He called, voice echoing in the nothingness. "Yosa'Min?"

"Who is Yosa'Min?" The spirit asked, looking up at him, distant and unseeing. "Where… Where am I?" The soul looked around, innocence and agony clinging to her in the form of chains. They tightened around her neck as Falion reached her, choking her. It was like the soul of a child, innocent and tender, fluttering against the binds that kept her down desperately. "Why does everything hurt?" The rainbow hues she emitted turned a deep purple as she became aware of her surroundings. "Please, help me, what's going on?"

"Serana…" Falion whispered with realization, hardly recognizing the woman in such pain. "I'm sorry but I can't help you, you're not the one I'm here for."

"Please… I can feel him. It hurts so much." Serana's eyes became stars, the chains she wore multiplying.

"You are not the one I am saving today," Falion replied tenderly, "I am looking for Yosa'Min."

The soul jerked at the name, looking about the realm of nothingness she dwelled within. "I know that name and yet I do not," she said, turning back to him. "Why? Where am I?"

"You're in a special place for souls… Your body is a vampire. Yosa'Min is your fledgling. You are both connected, my soul gem led me to the wrong end of the bond," he explained. "I must leave, there isn't much time."

Serana surged forward, halting his departure for a moment. "Vampire? Fledgling?" Serana questioned, an orb of light filling her chest. It spread outwards through her body, moments of joy and pain filling her. "Molag Bal," she whispered, Oblivion shuttering at the mere mention of him. "Summoning Day. It… It worked didn't it?" Falion gave a nod. Serana groaned in pain, hiding her face. "Please… Please save me."

"I cannot."

Snapping forward with violence, Serana turned red. "Kill me if you have to, just release me from here!" She pleaded, reaching for him desperately. Falion moved out of range, Serana struggling further. "Please! Please kill me!" She cried, the chains tightening until she could move no further. "I can feel him, it hurts, please!" There was a shimmer in the darkness, a body forming from the nothingness and Falion stiffened as he realized a daedra was soon to arrive.

Falion shook his head, swiftly drifting away. "I can't save you."

"Please!" Screamed Serana after him, her words echoing through Oblivion. Falion winced as he left her behind, a vile laugh following her cries and chasing him as he fled. The redguard tried to forget them, floating through the nothingness as the soul gem in his grip pulsated. He had to be getting nearer now, the bond between the sire and fledgling having disturbed it the first time.

Motes of light wisped past him, blinking stars for but only a moment before being swept away in the current. The soul gem radiated, a sole source of heat in the cold void. "Where are you Yosa'Min?" He hissed in frustration, a roar in his ears. He could hear screaming, the voices of Siulon and some terrible beast in agony slipping into the dimension. "Where are you!" He shouted, words echoing on endlessly. "Find her," he ordered the soul gem, and Oblivion twisted once more.

When the realm had settled around him, Falion struggled to make sense of what he saw. She lay there, streams of multicolored light rising off her body, fluctuating with each breath as she slumbered. Chains were loose upon her body, but the soul was not struggling like the others. Oblivion shuttered around her, trembling in the presence of the mighty being. Falion gasped as he took her in. "I'm going to need a bigger soul gem," he uttered.

He had expected something impressive, this was the soul of a vampire lord as well as the Dragonborn after all, but in no way had he anticipated a being so magnificently radiant. For a mage that had spent over half his life studying the supernatural and Oblivion, he had never seen anything quite like this. While in his spectral form he could not be harmed physically, there was a grand risk of his soul being damaged or destroyed, leaving his body more undead than the vampire he was trying to save.

What he was met with now, made him fear for his life.

"Yosa'Min," he called, voice reverberating in the dark world, "it's time for you to awaken and return to flesh and bone."

Blue eyes opened, innocence and curiosity alight before her powerful gaze settled on the mortal soul. "Who are you?" She asked softly, dizzy almost as she rose her head. Yosa'Min blinked at where she found herself, confusion turning her body a pinkish color for a few moments. "Where.. Where am I? What's going on?" She looked at Falion, the chains slowly tightening in response.

"I am Falion," he replied, "an ally of your dear ones who seek to return you to life."

The soul stared at him for a few moments that felt endless, eyes wide as she swirled with that pink color before turning a bright yellow. "Who exactly are my dear ones?" She asked with a laugh, Oblivion shuddering at the sound of her raised voice. Blue mixed with the yellow. "I don't have anyone that cares about me." The blue had chased the yellow away, deep like an ocean. "No one cares for me."

"Iona, Vex, Mjoll… Lydia. They are your dear ones, they've asked me to return your soul to your body."

Yosa'Min scoffed, shaking her head. "They hate me, all of them. Iona and Lydia are just dying to leave me I'm sure of it. Vex and Mjoll have every right to loathe me also."

"No, they seek your rescue, all of them!"

The Dragonborn scowled now, red filling her form. Falion gulped at how swiftly she was changing emotions, a sign of instability that would only make this all the harder. "Rescue from what, exactly?"

"Look around you Yosa'Min, look at yourself," he replied, undaunted by the menace upon her face or the way the void trembled at her building anger. "This is not where you belong." The chains multiplied, pulling tight against Yosa'Min but she did not seem to notice.

"Where… Where is here?" She asked, the anger subsiding for a moment. "I do not know this place."

"Your soul is disconnected from your body, you have been stuck here in limbo. Molag Bal draws strength from you, imprisons you while tricking your physical form that you have been granted a blessing. But you have become wise to his deception, your living self has sought out a cure. All you need do is come with me." He offered his hand, trying to comfort her as he saw the confusion and pain wash over her.

Then she became a like the embers of a fire, dark and yet still burning. "No."

Falion wavered. "No?"

"I do not believe you. Mortals are nothing but tricks and lies."

"Daedra are, and you are within Oblivion Yosa'Min."

"I betrayed Vex and Mjoll both, neither of them would want me. I have been terrible to Lydia and Iona, they would not seek to save me."

Falion shook his head. "They did, all of them! Even your sire, Serana, is trying to turn you mortal once more! If you wait much longer it will be too difficult to return you to your body, you will be forever cut off. Do you wish to dwell here, the plaything and trophy of a vile daedra for all eternity?"

Blue eyes narrowed. "Serana…"

"Yes, your sire."

"I… can feel her, but I do not know her."

"Your soul, no, but your body does. She cares greatly for you, and even as a vampire realizes becoming mortal is the best choice for you."

Yosa'Min turned away, still half laid upon the ground. "I don't understand."

"I will explain more once you have been cured, but I am afraid there is not much time," said Falion, trying to urge her onwards. Never had he met such a hesitant soul.

"No!" Yosa'Min snapped, rising to her feet, glaring down at him as she towered over the man. Falion gulped as serpentine eyes cut through him, the fire spreading across her body. "I will not depart this place until I understand what is going on. How do I know I'm not really in my body now, and you are trying to lead me astray?"

The redguard straightened up, and pulled the soul gem from his robes. "Show me Serana," he called into it. Oblivion struggled to accept his summons, but soon enough did an image of the sire form in the air. The nord soul was crumpled, weeping in agony as streams of light slipped from her body. Yosa'Min recoiled, hiding her face beneath her forelimb. "That is your sire, that is her soul in this place. You must see where you are Yosa'Min! You must feel that it is wrong!"

She was silent for some time, hiding her face. Another eternity passed before she spoke, voice hissing out into the nothingness. "What if I like the quiet? What if I like the calm and the peace of these spirits?" Ethereal chains slid along her form, tethering her to the void, strengthening with each word.

"So you know where you are," Falion nearly snapped, frustration boiling within him, "why do you lie to me?"

Revealing her face, an almost manic look was upon the redguard as she tilted her head. "It's almost better than the world out there. I can rest for as long as I want here. Why would I want to leave this? I have peace!"

"If you do not come back you will kill everyone you love! Do you want their blood upon your hands?"

She recoiled as if struck. "I didn't ask for this rescue."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I did not. She is not me, whoever is within my body!"

Falion gave a long sigh, his spectral form fluctuating. He was running out of time, and her spirit was still not willing. "Vastin."

Yosa'Min blinked, the rage ebbing from her spectral form. "What?"

The redguard turned his head up, staring into the eyes of a dragon. "Vastin needs you."

"My brother is dead," she uttered, "how dare you speak of him as if you know him. You know nothing of him or me!" The soul became a fire, burning far too bright for him to even see her now. "He's dead because of me!"

"No!" Shouted Falion, attempting to shield his face. The chains were the only dull points now, restraining her from mauling him, straining under the effort. The dragon roared, pulling with everything she had. "He is trapped just like you, his soul locked away but not gone. You can save him, but only if you return to your body!"

"You lie!" Her voice echoed in Oblivion, more chains appearing as if to hold her back. Falion struggled to remain standing.

"You said this yourself, you know it to be true!"

The chains yawned with the effort, claws swiping at the mage who barely escaped them. "Lies lies! It's impossible, my brother is gone!" Any chain that broke was replaced anew, but it was clear it was difficult to keep pace with the dragon.

"Vastin would have wanted you to try! He would have wanted you to live!"

The Dragonborn roared, surging forward and launching herself at him. With a deafening boom the chains snapped, and the dragon was freed.

Floating somewhere in between, the soul became aware of its surroundings. Shapes that burned with rainbow light were near a shell that beckoned to it, calling it with a soft voice. The soul drifted closer, curious of the confusing scene before it as the rainbow shapes shook the shell, darkness seeping out of it like overflowing water. A cage was amongst the six rainbows, like the shell but not quite, trapping the darkness within rather than spilling it. The soul reached out for the darkened shell, motes of light rising off its form the closer it drew near.

Something tugged the soul back, keeping the shell just beyond its grasp, chains holding tight to it. Dovakiin struggled, growing desperate to free itself as the chains pulled back. The cage was tethered to it, a tendril of invisible light passing between the two yet clearly visible as it was dragged back towards the realm it had escaped. A dark force pressed against the soul, trying to consume it.

Fighting with everything it had, Dovakiin surged forward, pulling against the chains. One of the rainbows did something, a flash of magic erupting into the sky, strengthening the soul. With what little aid it had granted, Dovakiin shook off its chains, rushing forward to escape them before it could be entangled once more. Before it could reach the shell, a ghost of dark purple and stars appeared, its form a corrupted and twisted version of the soul. Dovakiin crashed into it, twisting and struggling as something tore parts of the soul from it, the ghost furious and shrieking. The soul bellowed with fury as it was prevented from reuniting with its body, pride and indignation filling it. It slammed itself against the monster, trying to tear it apart. With a dark cackle the corrupted being pushed back, claws tearing ribbons from Dovakiin, the hovering soul gem absorbing whatever was ripped like a singularity, drawing them both back into Oblivion.

The soul panicked, struggling to free itself, ethereal hind claws scraped at the spectral while fangs bit into its shimmering form. Wings beat in the strange realm between worlds, keeping the soul aloft to claw and bite. Whatever Dovakiin dished out the spectral returned in full, only having to outlast the escaping soul not defeat it. They were both massive, twisting beings of pure power. At last the spectral had the upper hand, tearing more of the soul and weakening it enough that it was having to focus on not being sucked away through the soul gem.

You are mine. Whispered the vile being, face shifting into that of Molag Bal's as it waited for the soul to be reclaimed. A rainbow cast more magic, joined by three others, and Dovakiin felt a rush of power, the torn ribbons of it reforming as it glowered with rage. The dragon soul shimmered, made of light and power, streams of it rising from its body as it became whole once more.

I am no one's. It replied before surging forward with renewed strength. Dovakiin flapped its wings as it brought its hind claws up, striking like an eagle. The spectral was unable to escape as claws captured its throat, tearing backwards as its maw came down and crushed the ghost's head, wrenching back to decapitate it for extra measure. Purple light bled from it for a few terrible seconds, before the vile being exploded into a thousand motes of shadow that were devoured by the soul gem. Dovakiin continued forward, crashing into the shell it sought.

A flash of light exploded into being as the soul returned to flesh.

The world erupted into light, an implosion of magic and sound. The runes vanished as the remnants of the spell were wiped from the world, fizzling into the air before they were gone completely. Darkness swam in the woman's vision, her mind foggy and pulsating with a terrible ache. The ringing in her ear did not mute the voices all around her, instead simply making them distant and unintelligible.

Groaning, Yosa'Min tried to push them all away, turning onto her side and clenching her eyes shut. Then she felt it, something so foreign and yet familiar she almost couldn't place it. Warmth. Yosa'Min gasped as she was basked in it, enraptured by the heat that surrounded her. It filled her from the head down, swirling, radiating, rushing through the woman's form to bring life back to her body. She could feel something pulsating inside of her, Yosa'Min struggling to name it until she remembered she had a heart. It beat with life, pumping blood and air filled her lungs.

"Please be blue…"

She finally understood the words being uttered, repeated again and again in a prayer. Yosa'Min's eyelids fluttered open, her vision nothing but blurs and blobs that slowly became people. A platinum blonde imperial, Vex, she remembered, was smiling as tears ran down her cheeks. A redheaded nord was too, a smile tugging at her lips while exhaustion hung upon her face. Iona, her mind told her. A pair of dunmers she could vaguely recall seeing before were there also, and a strange redguard man who filled her with anger at the sight of though she did not know him. Something questioned where two other women were, wondering when she would see her friends Lydia and Mjoll.

Then she noticed the muscular arms that held her, pulled her close to a chest and gave her the warmth that was so engulfing. "Yosa'Min…" Uttered a thick accented voice, a shudder running down Yosa'Min's spine. "You're… You're alive."

Looking up at where Mjoll's beautiful face was, tears dampening her cheeks while joy shined in golden eyes, Yosa'Min reached with one hand. "Mjoll…" Whispered Yosa'Min with a hoarse voice, fingers brushing her jaw. "Nice to see you."

"Thank the Divines!" Mjoll cried, her arms tightening as she embraced the redguard. "It worked!" Mjoll kissed her, the redguard's eyes widening in shock but eagerly returning the gesture, melting against Mjoll. "It actually worked!"

Yosa'Min smiled as she pulled back, tilting her head and revealing fangs. "What worked?"

"Falion…" Said Vex slowly, wiping the tears from her face. "Why does she have fangs still?"

"Just like her transformation into one, it will take time for her body to recover, if it ever fully does," explained the strange redguard. Then Yosa'Min noticed the brunet nord who hung back, watching with wide eyes. She seemed frozen in place, tears in her eyes that refused to flow. Yosa'Min struggled to her feet, Mjoll helping her stand. "Take it easy Yosa'Min," advised Falion.

"She never does," remarked Iona softly.

Blue eyes narrowed, the redguard holding Mjoll's shoulder to keep herself steady as her legs shook beneath her. Her head swooned, the Lioness' support the only thing keeping her from collpasing as the ground swapped places with the sky for a few moments before everything settled out.

When she'd gotten her bearings, the brunet hadn't moved, Yosa'Min meeting her gaze. The vampire stared back, the tears starting to race down her cheeks. Yosa'Min knew she knew her, but a haze kept her from being able to figure it out. She looked away from the vampire, examining herself.

She was wearing a strange garb, the same as the vampire's, leather pants and corset with a red blouse beneath it. A silvery choker and cape adorned her body as well. What caught her attention most however, was a tattered red sash tied to her arm. She touched it, something so peculiar about it, and looked back to the vampire. Defeat was filling those glowing eyes, tears flowing faster now. Then she felt it, a tether between them, a connection deeper than the wonders of Nirn.

A bond.

"Do you know who I am?" Asked the vampire, voice catching.

"My Lady," uttered Yosa'Min as everything came rushing in. She could see it all, the good and bad, the painful moments and joyful ones. Fighting with her and venturing to strange places, running from her friends to keep them safe, Vastin; it all came back. Nothing was hidden. "Now until Alduin swallows the world."

Serana's restraints fell, crumpling like sand and she rushed forward to embrace the redguard. "Yosa!" Laughter, pure and rapturous, escaped Yosa'Min as she returned the gesture, the force behind Serana enough to send her stumbling into Mjoll. The nord joined in the embrace, Iona not hesitating to as well. Vex lingered aside for a moment, before Mjoll grasped her shoulder and pulled her into the group hug. The redguard's laughter was infectious, soon spreading throughout them each. Serana, Vex, Mjoll, Iona, Yosa'Min; they each giggled and cried in victorious unison, collapsing on the ritual stone in a heap.

Mjoll grunted as four women pressed down onto her, the tall woman unable to support them all. Iona tumbled free, laying aside, laughing with exhaustion and exhilaration as she stared at the sky. A hand reached out for Lydia's, only to be met by empty air. "We did it," whispered Iona, imagining her love was there besides her to share in the jubilation. "It wasn't all wasted Lydia… we saved her." Her smile turned bitter. "We did it."

Vex managed to free herself from Mjoll's powerful grip, and found herself besides the Volkihar vampire, Serana's fangs revealed in an enchanting grin, laughter racking her body. The imperial's expression softened some, watching as Serana reeled in what had happened. "You mortals are impossible," uttered Serana, meeting Vex's gaze. "Stubborn, powerful, dedicated, and amazing."

"This isn't even me on a good day," replied the imperial, Serana smirking in response.

"I'd love to see that then," replied Serana easily, "maybe I was wrong about mortals."

"You were wrong about a cure," pointed out Vex, "there's bound to be plenty else you didn't get right."

"Probably," agreed Serana, "I'll have to learn the truth sometime." Vex gave a chuckle of disbelief, shaking her head where she lay until she caught the seriousness upon Serana's face.

"Really?"

"If my sole friend is to be mortal, I'd like to know how to interact with her. Letters won't always be enough. I am the new leader of my clan, and the ways we lived will no longer work in this world. Perhaps we don't have to make enemies simply out of ignorance?"

"That would be nice," agreed Vex, "I'm sure not all of you vampires are bad. You've been controlling yourself for nearly a day now around us without trying to drink our blood once."

Serana gave a smile. "We're not all monsters."

Amber eyes lingered on the vampire. "Seems so…" Vex then blinked at the noises to her right, amusement painting her face at what she saw.

Of the five, two of them remained together, Yosa'Min atop the nord and nuzzling against Mjoll. The Lioness held her tenderly, hands resting upon the redguard's waist as Yosa'Min kissed her brow. Holding Mjoll's face, Yosa'Min stared into golden eyes. No words passed between them, only soft sighs and chuckles to be heard, and yet they both knew what the other was saying. Smiling deeply, Mjoll gave a nod of her head and kissed the redguard's lips, Yosa'Min's giggling picking back up to where the others could hear.

Vex rolled her eyes with mock disgust, the smile upon her face betraying herself. Standing up, Vex allowed the pair a bit of privacy, deciding to thank the mages for all their help. She hadn't made it more than two steps before a foot tripped her slightly, Vex glaring down at Mjoll who gave a self-satisfied grin.

"Thank you," said Mjoll, Vex blushing softly in response.

"Don't mention it," Vex replied, "I'm sure the Guild would never let me live down working with you."

"Aerin will freak once he learns where I've run off to again," she laughed, only to deflate with realization. "Oh Divines, he's going to chew me out. I've been gone a month."

"We'll deal with that when we get to it," said Yoa'Min, kissing her lips reassuringly.

"Okay…" agreed Mjoll, "right now I'm just going to revel in your revival."

Yosa'Min rolled off Mjoll, clasping their hands together so that some part of them was still touching. "Can we just… lay here and watch the sunrise? There's no rush right?" Asked the redguard, her body tingling with a mixture of pain and pleasure, parts of her waking up slower than others from their undead slumber. "I haven't seen one in so long." Dawn was off in the distance, fast approaching, streaks of pink reaching across the sky that were visible through the dead trees. "Serana?"

"I can handle it," said the fledgling-less sire.

"Vex?"

It felt strange to realize there was no longer a deadline upon them, no date creeping up threatening to kill them all if their task wasn't completed in time. Smiling, the imperial settled back down between Yosa'Min and Serana. "Okay… Just for you Yosa."

"Iona?" She gave an agreeing grunt. The redguard giggled in delight, squeezing Mjoll's hand. "Thanks… Everyone, for everything."

"Let's try not to make resurrection a habit," joked Mjoll. Laughter agreed from all around, the mages giving exhausted grunts and nods as they rested on some stones. "It's good to have you back Yosa."

Smiling up at the sky, the redguard squeezed her hand. "It's good to be back."